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Kenya national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Kenya women's national football team.
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Kenya
Nickname(s) Harambee Stars
Association Football Kenya Federation (FKF)
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation CECAFA (Central & East Africa)
Head coach Benni McCarthy
Captain Michael Olunga
Most caps Musa Otieno (90)
Top scorer William Ouma (35)
Home stadium Moi International Sports Centre
FIFA code KEN
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 106 Decrease 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest 68 (December 2008)
Lowest 137 (July 2007)
Elo ranking
Current 108 Increase 2 (3 March 2019)
Highest 60 (November 1983)
Lowest 140 (August 2011)
First international
 Kenya 1–1 Uganda 
(Nairobi, Kenya; 1 May 1926)
Biggest win
 Kenya 10–0 Zanzibar 
(Nairobi, Kenya; 4 October 1961)
Biggest defeat
 Uganda 13–1 Kenya 
(Uganda; 14 December, 1932)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances 7 (first in 1972)
Best result Group stage (1972, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2019)
Four Nations Football Tournament
Appearances 1 (first in 2024)
Best result Champions (2024)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances 2 (first in 2013)
Best result Group stage (2013, 2024)

The Kenya national football team, also known as the Harambee Stars, represents Kenya in the sport of association football. This team is managed by the Football Kenya Federation. They are part of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA). The team usually plays its home games at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya's capital city.

Team Name: Harambee Stars

The team's nickname, the Harambee Stars, comes from the word Harambee. This is a special Kenyan tradition. It means people come together to help each other. The word means "all pull together" in the Swahili language. It is also Kenya's official motto. You can see it on the coat of arms.

Team History

In 2004, FIFA stopped Kenya from playing football for three months. This happened because the government got too involved in football matters. The ban was lifted when Kenya agreed to new rules.

Later, in 2006, Kenya was suspended again. This was because they did not follow an agreement made earlier. FIFA said the ban would stay until the football federation followed the rules.

Kenya played in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The coach at that time was Sébastien Migné. Under his leadership, Kenya moved back into the top 100 teams in the FIFA rankings.

In May 2017, the Football Kenya Federation signed a deal with Mafro Sports. This company makes sports kits. They agreed to provide kits for all national teams for three years. The main team wears red jerseys for home games. They wear white for away games and green for games played at neutral places.

On September 8, 2018, Kenya won a game against Ghana. Ghana is a strong team that has won the African championship four times. Kenya won 1–0.

In January 2023, the Football Kenya Federation announced a problem. They suspended 14 players and two coaches. This was due to concerns about unfair play in matches.

Recent Games and Future Matches

Here are the results of games played in the last year. Also, some future matches are listed.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

Games in 2024

7 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Kenya  1–1  Burundi Lilongwe, Malawi
15:00 UTC+2
  • Abuya Goal 72'
  • Abdallah Goal 85'
 Stadium: Bingu National Stadium
Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
11 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Kenya  0–0  Ivory Coast Lilongwe, Malawi
15:00 UTC+2 Stadium: Bingu National Stadium
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Jalal Jayed (Morocco)
27 June 2024 COSAFA Cup Zambia  0–2  Kenya Gqeberha, South Africa
  • Odhiambo Goal 8' (pen.)
  • Otieno Goal 19'
 Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
30 June 2024 COSAFA Cup Kenya  0–2  Comoros Gqeberha, South Africa
  • Djambae Goal 34' (pen.), 49'
 Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium
2 July 2024 COSAFA Cup Kenya  2–0  Zimbabwe Gqeberha, South Africa
12:00
  • A. Odhiambo Goal 54'
  • Omalla Goal 73'
 Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium
6 September 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Kenya  0–0  Zimbabwe
16:00 UTC+3

Games in 2025

20 March 2026 World Cup qualification Gambia  3–3  Kenya Abidjan, Ivory Coast
19:00 UTC±0
  • Barrow Goal 55', 84'
  • Minteh Goal 61'
  • Olunga Goal 69' (pen.)
  • Bajaber Goal 75'
  • Wilson Goal 90+6'
 Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium
Referee: Abdou Abdel Mefire (Cameroon)
23 March 2026 World Cup qualification Kenya  1–2  Gabon Nairobi, Kenya
16:00 UTC+3
  • Olunga Goal 62'
 Stadium: Nyayo National Stadium
September 2026 World Cup qualification Kenya  v  Gambia
September 2026 World Cup qualification Kenya  v  Seychelles
October 2026 World Cup qualification Burundi  v  Kenya
October 2026 World Cup qualification Ivory Coast  v  Kenya

Team Coaches

Eckhard Krautzun
Eckhard Krautzun was a manager for Kenya's national football team in 1971.

Ray Batchelor was the first coach of the national team in 1961. But some players were not happy with his coaching. This led to problems during a CECAFA Cup game. He was then forced to leave. In 1963, after Kenya became independent, Peter Oronge took over. However, he disappeared just before a friendly game in 1965. His absence was never explained. Batchelor had to step in as an emergency coach. In that game, Kenya lost 13–2 to Ghana. Ghana was a very strong team back then. Two days later, Batchelor helped the team reorganize. Kenya and Ghana then played to a draw in another friendly match.

Here is a list of managers since 1961. Caretaker managers are shown in italics.

  • England Ray Batchelor (1961)
  • Kenya Peter Oronge (1963)
  • England Ray Batchelor (1965)
  • England Jack Gibbons (1966)
  • Kenya Elijah Lidonde (1967)
  • West Germany Eckhard Krautzun (1971)
  • Kenya Jonathan Niva (1972)
  • England Ray Wood (1975)
  • Poland Grzegorz Polakow (1979)
  • Kenya Stephen Yongo (1979)
  • Kenya Marshall Mulwa (1980–1983)
  • West Germany Bernhard Zgoll (1984)
  • Germany Reinhard Fabisch (1987)
  • Kenya Christopher Makokha (1988)
  • Morocco Mohammed Kheri (1988–1990)
  • Austria Gerry Saurer (1992)
  • Morocco Mohammed Kheri (1995)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vojo Gardašević (1996)
  • Germany Reinhard Fabisch (1997)
  • Kenya Abdul Majid (1998)
  • Nigeria Christian Chukwu (1998)
  • Kenya James Siang'a (1999–2000)
  • Germany Reinhard Fabisch (2001–2002)
  • Kenya Joe Kadenge (2002)
  • Kenya Jacob Mulee (2003–2004)
  • Kenya Twahir Muhiddin (2004–2005)
  • Morocco Mohammed Kheri (2005)
  • France Bernard Lama (2006)
  • Kenya Tom Olaba (2006)
  • Kenya Jacob Mulee (2007–2008)
  • Kenya Francis Kimanzi (2008–2009)
  • Germany Antoine Hey (2009)
  • Kenya Twahir Muhiddin (2009–2010)
  • Kenya Jacob Mulee (2010)
  • Kenya Zedekiah Otieno (2010–2011)
  • Kenya Francis Kimanzi (2011–2012)
  • France Henri Michel (2012)
  • Kenya James Nandwa (2012–2013)
  • Algeria Adel Amrouche (2013–2014)
  • Scotland Bobby Williamson (2014–2016)
  • Kenya Stanley Okumbi (2016–2017)
  • Belgium Paul Put (2017–2018)
  • Kenya Stanley Okumbi (2018)
  • France Sébastien Migné (2018–2019)
  • Kenya Francis Kimanzi (2019–2020)
  • Kenya Jacob Mulee (2020–2021)
  • Kenya Kennedy Odhiambo (2021)
  • Turkey Engin Fırat (2021–2024)
  • Kenya Francis Kimanzi (2024–2025)
  • South Africa Benni McCarthy (2025–present)

Team Players

LG Cup Africa 2011 Kenya vs Sudan
Kenya playing against Sudan in Nairobi.

Current Squad

These players were chosen for friendly games. They played against Morocco and Chad in June 2025.

The numbers for games played (Caps) and goals scored are correct as of June 10, 2025. This was after the match against Chad.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Farouk Shikalo (1996-10-12) 12 October 1996 (age 28) 3 0 Kenya KCB
18 1GK Sebastian Wekesa 0 0 Kenya F.C. Kariobangi Sharks
23 1GK Brian Bwire (2000-06-19) 19 June 2000 (age 25) 3 0 South Africa Polokwane City
2 2DF Siraj Mohammed (1998-12-04) 4 December 1998 (age 26) 1 0 Kenya Bandari
3 2DF Aboud Omar (1992-09-09) 9 September 1992 (age 32) 46 0 Kenya Kenya Police
4 2DF Sylvester Owino (2001-05-06) 6 May 2001 (age 24) 4 0 Kenya Gor Mahia
5 2DF Brian Onyango (1994-07-24) 24 July 1994 (age 31) 40 3 South Africa Stellenbosch
12 2DF Swaleh Pamba 1 0 Kenya Bandari
13 2DF Levis Esambe (2002-12-01) 1 December 2002 (age 22) 1 0 Kenya AFC Leopards
15 2DF Alphonce Omija (2002-10-09) 9 October 2002 (age 22) 4 0 Kenya Gor Mahia
24 2DF Daniel Sakari (1999-01-25) 25 January 1999 (age 26) 14 0 Kenya Kenya Police
6 3MF Brian Musa Katibi (1996-09-20) 20 September 1996 (age 28) 2 0 Kenya Kenya Police
8 3MF Alpha Chris Onyango (2000-12-23) 23 December 2000 (age 24) 2 0 Kenya Gor Mahia
10 3MF Austin Odhiambo (1999-12-16) 16 December 1999 (age 25) 5 0 Kenya Gor Mahia
11 3MF William Wilson (2001-12-23) 23 December 2001 (age 23) 4 1 Australia Central Coast Mariners
7 4FW Boniface Muchiri (1996-08-26) 26 August 1996 (age 28) 10 0 Kenya Ulinzi Stars
9 4FW Moses Shumah (2002-10-27) 27 October 2002 (age 22) 3 1 Kenya Kakamega Homeboyz
16 4FW David Sakwa (2004-02-04) 4 February 2004 (age 21) 1 1 Kenya Bandari
17 4FW Ben Stanley Omondi (2004-04-24) 24 April 2004 (age 21) 1 0 Kenya Gor Mahia
19 4FW Nyamawi Beja (2002-06-06) 6 June 2002 (age 23) 1 0 Kenya Assad
20 4FW Adam Wilson (2000-04-10) 10 April 2000 (age 25) 2 0 England Bradford City
21 4FW James Kinyanjui (1998-08-08) 8 August 1998 (age 26) 0 0 Kenya KCB
22 4FW Emmanuel Osoro 1 1 Kenya F.C. Talanta
4FW Mohammed Bajaber (2003-03-15) 15 March 2003 (age 22) 2 1 Kenya Kenya Police

Players Recently Called Up

These players have also been called to the Kenya squad in the last year.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Ian Otieno (1993-08-09) 9 August 1993 (age 31) 10 0 South Africa Richards Bay v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
GK Bryne Odhiambo (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24) 7 0 Kenya Bandari 2024 COSAFA Cup
GK Dolph Junior (2003-12-08) 8 December 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Kenya Gor Mahia 2024 COSAFA Cup
GK Ibrahim Wanzala (2005-03-16) 16 March 2005 (age 20) 0 0 Kenya Kakamega Homeboyz 2024 COSAFA Cup
DF Erick Otieno (1996-09-27) 27 September 1996 (age 28) 48 0 Poland Raków Częstochowa v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
DF Johnstone Omurwa (1998-08-08) 8 August 1998 (age 26) 21 0 Saudi Arabia Abha v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
DF Rooney Onyango (2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 23) 13 1 Kenya Gor Mahia v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
DF Daniel Anyembe (1998-07-22) 22 July 1998 (age 27) 11 0 Denmark Viborg v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
DF Ismael Athuman (1995-02-01) 1 February 1995 (age 30) 11 0 Spain Mérida v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
DF Manzur Okwaro (2006-01-01) 1 January 2006 (age 19) 0 0 Kenya KCB v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
DF Amos Wanjala 2 0 Spain Gimnàstic de Tarragona 2024 COSAFA Cup
DF Paul Ochuoga (2004-09-13) 13 September 2004 (age 20) 1 0 Kenya Gor Mahia 2024 COSAFA Cup
DF Geoffrey Onyango 1 0 Kenya Kariobangi Sharks 2024 COSAFA Cup
MF Teddy Akumu (1992-10-20) 20 October 1992 (age 32) 60 1 Iran Kheybar Khorramabad v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
MF Richard Odada (2000-11-25) 25 November 2000 (age 24) 21 1 Serbia OFK Beograd v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
MF Duke Abuya (1994-03-23) 23 March 1994 (age 31) 18 2 Tanzania Young Africans v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
MF Amos Nondi (1999-02-10) 10 February 1999 (age 26) 16 1 Armenia Ararat-Armenia v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
MF Timothy Ouma (2004-06-10) 10 June 2004 (age 21) 8 0 Czech Republic Slavia Prague v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
MF Chris Erambo (2004-12-10) 10 December 2004 (age 20) 6 0 Kenya Tusker 2024 COSAFA Cup
MF John Ochieng (2003-12-15) 15 December 2003 (age 21) 2 0 Zambia Zanaco 2024 COSAFA Cup
MF Kayci Odhiambo (2003-04-28) 28 April 2003 (age 22) 2 0 Kenya AFC Leopards 2024 COSAFA Cup
MF Patrick Otieno (2000-12-24) 24 December 2000 (age 24) 2 1 Kenya Posta Rangers 2024 COSAFA Cup
MF Aldrine Kibet (2006-06-13) 13 June 2006 (age 19) 1 0 Spain Gimnàstic de Tarragona 2024 COSAFA Cup
MF Stanley Wilson 1 0 Kenya Kariobangi Sharks 2024 COSAFA Cup
MF William Gitamu 0 0 Kenya Bandari 2024 COSAFA Cup
MF Elly Owande 0 0 Kenya Migori Youth 2024 COSAFA Cup
FW Michael Olunga (1994-03-26) 26 March 1994 (age 31) 60 29 Qatar Al-Duhail v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
FW Eric Johanna Omondi (1994-08-18) 18 August 1994 (age 30) 36 4 Romania UTA Arad v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
FW Masoud Juma (1996-02-03) 3 February 1996 (age 29) 22 8 Iran Esteghlal v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
FW John Avire (1997-03-12) 12 March 1997 (age 28) 12 2 Egypt El Sekka El Hadid v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
FW Jonah Ayunga (1997-05-24) 24 May 1997 (age 28) 5 1 Scotland St Mirren v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
FW Elvis Rupia (1995-04-12) 12 April 1995 (age 30) 4 1 Tanzania Ihefu v.  Gabon, 23 March 2025
FW Benson Omala (2001-10-16) 16 October 2001 (age 23) 5 1 Lebanon Safa 2024 COSAFA Cup
FW Alfred Tanui (2002-12-28) 28 December 2002 (age 22) 1 0 Kenya Talanta 2024 COSAFA Cup
FW Hassan Beja (2005-08-26) 26 August 2005 (age 19) 0 0 Kenya AFC Leopards 2024 COSAFA Cup
FW Jeremy Bissau 0 0 England Brooke House College 2024 COSAFA Cup

INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary/Standby squad
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension
WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue

Team Records

Here are some records for the Kenya national football team. Players whose names are in bold are still playing for Kenya.

Most Games Played

Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Musa Otieno 90 9 1993–2009
2 Jonathan Niva 88 10 1965–1976
3 Allan Thigo 81 11 1969–1978
4 John Nyawanga 80 17 1965–1976
5 Dennis Oliech 76 34 2002–2015
6 Robert Mambo Mumba 72 13 2000–2009
7 Titus Mulama 71 8 2001–2012
8 Francis Onyiso 70 0 1996–2011
9 Wilberforce Mulamba 68 14 1978–1988
James Siang'a 68 0 1963–1975

Top Goal Scorers

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 William Ouma 35 66 0.53 1965–1977
2 Dennis Oliech 34 76 0.45 2002–2015
3 Elijah Lidonde 33 26 1.27 1950–1961
4 Michael Olunga 32 65 0.48 2015–present
5 Ali Kajo 26 32 0.81 1959–1969
Livingstone Madegwa 26 49 0.53 1964–1972
7 Joe Kadenge 25 63 0.4 1957–1970
8 John Baraza 21 52 0.4 2002–2011
9 Daniel Nicodemus 17 34 0.5 1963–1972
Mike Origi 17 48 0.35 1990–2004
John Nyawanga 17 80 0.21 1965–1976

Tournament Records

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1958 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
1962 to 1970 Did not enter Declined participation
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 6 2 2 2 9 8
Argentina 1978 2 0 1 1 0 1
Spain 1982 2 1 0 1 3 6
Mexico 1986 4 1 1 2 6 10
Italy 1990 6 1 3 2 2 4
United States 1994 2 1 0 1 2 4
France 1998 8 4 1 3 14 14
South Korea Japan 2002 2 0 1 1 0 2
Germany 2006 12 4 2 6 11 17
South Africa 2010 12 4 1 7 13 16
Brazil 2014 8 3 3 2 11 5
Russia 2018 4 2 1 1 6 4
Qatar 2022 6 1 3 2 4 9
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 6 1 3 2 11 8
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/16 80 25 22 33 92 108

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Ivory Coast 2009 Did not qualify
Sudan 2011
South Africa 2014
Rwanda 2016
Morocco 2018
Cameroon 2020
Algeria 2022
KenyaTanzaniaUganda 2024 Qualified as co-hosts
Total TBD 1/8 0 0 0 0 0 0

Africa Cup of Nations

Main article: Kenya at the Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Sudan 1957 to United Arab Republic 1959 Not affiliated to CAF
Ethiopia 1962 to Sudan 1970 Did not qualify
Cameroon 1972 Group stage 5th 3 0 2 1 3 4
Egypt 1974 to Libya 1982 Did not qualify
Ivory Coast 1984 Did not enter
Egypt 1986 Did not qualify
Morocco 1988 Group stage 8th 3 0 1 2 0 6
Algeria 1990 8th 3 0 1 2 0 3
Senegal 1992 9th 2 0 0 2 1 5
Tunisia 1994 Did not qualify
South Africa 1996 Withdrew
Burkina Faso 1998 to Mali 2002 Did not qualify
Tunisia 2004 Group stage 11th 3 1 0 2 4 6
Egypt 2006 to Gabon 2017 Did not qualify
Egypt 2019 Group stage 17th 3 1 0 2 3 7
Cameroon 2021 Did not qualify
Ivory Coast 2023 Disqualified due to FIFA suspension
Morocco 2025 Did not qualify
KenyaTanzaniaUganda 2027 Qualified as co-hosts
2029 To be determined
Total Group stage 7/36 17 2 4 11 11 31

African Games

Year Round Pld W D L GF GA
Kenya 1987 2nd 5 2 2 1 7 6

Team Achievements

Continental Awards

  • African Games1
    • 2 Silver medal (1) : 1987

Regional Awards

  • CECAFA Cup
    • 1 Winners (7): 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2002, 2013, 2017
    • 2 Runners-up (7): 1979, 1985, 1991, 1999, 2001, 2008, 2012
    • 3 Runners-up (6): 1978, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2003
  1. This competition is organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa. FIFA does not officially recognize it.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Kenia para niños

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